Terry Gipson on Friday called the endorsement by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a fellow Democrat, of Republican state Sen. Stephen Saland "ironic and disappointing" and said the state leader "is actually working against his own future agenda."

Saland, seeking re-election to the Senate and opposed in the 41st District race by Gipson and Conservative Neil DiCarlo, won Cuomo's backing on Thursday, largely because of the senator's vote last year in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in New York.

DiCarlo, of Putnam County, said the endorsement proves the long-serving Saland is "more of a liberal Democrat" than Gipson. He also said he wouldn't be surprised if Saland quit the GOP and enrolled as a Democrat.

Saland narrowly beat DiCarlo in a Republican primary in the 41st District last month.

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Saland and three other Republican senators crossed party lines to cast the votes needed to overcome significant GOP opposition to legalizing gay marriage. Cuomo has long said he would support the GOP senators who supported the measure.

Dutchess County Republican Chairman Michael McCormack said Cuomo's endorsement of Saland proved Saland's "ability to work across the aisle for the good of his constituents and his Senate district."

"It just shows that a Republican can work with the Democrats effectively for the betterment of our community and certainly here in this Senate district," McCormack said.

Gipson, though, said Cuomo probably won't be able to count on Saland's support on other key issues, including equal pay for women, raising the minimum wage, ensuring paid family leave and ending discrimination in the workplace.

"During the next session (of the state Legislature), as the governor tries to get these things done, he has supported someone who will not work with him," said Gipson, who lives in Rhinebeck. "These are all issues Senator Saland has not supported."

Gipson said his campaign has been "bombarded" with messages from Democrats who are "extremely upset with the governor ... extremely disappointed with the governor and don't understand why the governor would support someone who would work against working families."

The 41st Senate District comprises most of Dutchess County and three towns in Putnam County.